Shock-absorbing coupling.



H. VILLIERS-STUART.

SHOCK ABSORBING GOUPLING. APPLICATION PILIID AUG.I0,1908.

925,250, Patented .TI-me 15,1909.

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SHOCK ABSORBING GOUPLING. 4APPLICATION FILED AUG.10, 1908.

Patented June 15, 1909.

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I A lwunkoz abbot/M435 HORACE VILLIERS-STUART, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

SHOCK-ABSORBING COUPLING.

Application led August` 10, 1908. Serial No. 447,766.

To all whom t lmay concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE VILLIERS- STUART, of Louisville in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shock-Absorbin Couplings; and I hereby declare that the following 'is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention is a novel cushioned coupling for use' as a connection between a driving and a driven member, and its object is to cushion the shock of sudden transmissions of motion, or arrest of motion from one part to another, thereby reducing the wear and tear on both parts.

The invention is particularly adapted for use on automobiles between the engine shaft or main driving shaft and a driven shaft or axle and when so employed almost all of the jerks or irregular motions of the driving shaft or engine will be absorbed by the coupling before reaching the driven shaft or wheels and the shocks on the driven shaft or wheels incident to road service are cushioned or absorbed before reaching the driving shaft or engine and thus by means of the novel coupling the durability and safety of the machine is increased and the comfort of the occupants of the vehicle is enhanced.

vThe invention is of course applicable to other machinery as will be readily understood by mechanicians, and I will now describe the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings which illustrate some practical embodiments thereof, and which will enable any one skilled in the art to readily utilize the invention.

In said drawings-Figure 1,is a longitudinal central section through the cushioned coupling on line zicin Fig. 2.A Fig. 2, is a transverse section on line 2 2 in Fig. 1, with the cushioning springs relaxed and parts in idle position. Fig. 3, is a similar view showing the coupling in operation and the cushioning springs under partial compression. Fig. 4, is a longitudinal sectional view similar to Fig. 1, showing a slight modification of the coupling. Fig. 5, is a side view of Fig. 4, with the outer casing removed or broken awa-y, and, Fig. 6, is a transverse'section on line 6 6 of Fig. 4, Figs. 7 and 8 are transverse sectional views 0f another modification.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented .Tune 15, 1909.

The driving shaft 1, may be the shaft of an engine or motor (not shown) or may'directly or indirectly receive motion therefrom. This shaft is provided with a hollow cyliiidric head 2, which may either be in-y tegral with the shaft or. formed separate therefrom and rigidly secured thereto in any suitable manner. The head 2, has a bore preferably of larger diameter Athan the shaft.

The driven shaft 4 lies in axial alinement with shaft 1, and has on its end adjacent shaft l, a cylindric head 3, corresponding in external diameter to the internal diameter of head 2, Yand telescoped into head 2, as shown. The head 3, may be formed integral with shaft 4, or separately, and rigidly secured to said shaft. Itwill be seen that by reason of the fit between the heads the ends of the shaft will beheld in axial alineinent thereby. As shown in Fig. 4, theshaft 1, may be extended into the head 3, and loosely fittedl therein. This in a measure will additionally prevent lateral relative play of the head.

The heads 2 andv 3 are provided at coincident-radial points with circumferential series. of slots, 2a and 3a, which when the parts are at rest are in exact register. The coincident slots 21, 3, form pockets within which are placed cushioning devices of any suitable construction,resilient coil springs 5, being shown in the drawing, and the pockets are of such -depth that the axes of the cushioning devices are about in the same plane as the outer periphery of the head 3.

It will be observed by reference to Figs. 2 and 3, that if the power is applied to rotate sha-ft 1, it will tend to rotate head 2 on head 3, and the cushioning devices 5 will be compressed, more-or less, according to the resistance to the rotation of shaft 4.

As this resistance varies, I think it desirable are of equa.l lengths butI in this arrangement the same result is produced-to wit: When power is applied to rotate shaft 1, the cushioning devices will be successively compressed until shaft 4 turns. Or, again, the pockets formed by the registering slots 2 and 3a may be of equal length and the cushioning devices be made of equal length but of varying resistance, in which case the same result will be produced when power is yapplied to shaft 1, the essential feature bepressible cushions could be placed in the pockets as equivalents of the springs.

In the modification shown in Figs. 7 'and 8, the slots in one head, as 3, may be\made of equal length, as indicated; while the slots in the other hea-d, as 2, are made of unequal length, so that the slots inthe heads do not exactly register. The cushioning devices or springs 5 placed inthe pockets formed by the slots in head 2 and 3 may be either of equal or unequal length, or strength. In this construction owing to the difference in the lengths of the slots the springs will come successively into operation on relative rotative movement of the heads, with the same effect as above described. In order to keep the cushioning devices in place within the slots a'nd prevent their dropping radially therefrom, a cover or casing 6 may be placed overv the heads as indicated in the drawings,`

and secured in any suitable manner. Of course the form of the casing may be changed to suit the design of the coupling and impart a neat and ornamental appearance thereto. It will alsobe obvious that upon a total compression of the cushioning devices, they will act as a lock between the heads 2 and 3, and cause shaft 4 to turn with shaft1\ 1, or the latter stop. It will also be observed that as the pockets in which the cushioning devices are placed are preferably formed partially in both heads 2 and 3, the cushioning devices in the pockets project into both heads and will serve as a means to prevent relative longitudinal displacement or movement of the heads.

In the Adrawings 'I have shown two annular series of cushion receiving Ypockets in the coupling and four pockets 1n series arranged ninety degrees apart. Obviously the number of pockets in a series, and the numdiameter, compared with the shaft, and also very cheaply, and the coupling serves to keep the shafts in axial alinement and also serves to prevent longitudinal relative movements thereof. c

Having thus described my invention, I claim.: Y

1. In a coupling the combination of a pair of heads provided with series of slots and cushioning devices in said slots, said slots and cushioning devices being relatively so proportioned that the cushloning devices come successively into action in transmitting motion from one head to the other.

2. A cushioning coupling for a driving and a driven member, comprising a pair of heads provided with slots and cushioning devices in said slots adapted to yieldingly transmit motion from one head to the other, said cushioning devices being adapted to successively come into action, substantially as described. Y

3. The combination in a coupling of an internal and external head, each provided with a series of radial slots, the slots in said heads registering and cushioning devices in said, slots, said slots and cushioning devices being relatively so proportioned that the cushioning devices come successively into action in transmitting motion from one head to the other.

4. In a shock absorber, the combination of a driven shaft, a head thereon provided with an annular series of slots, a driven member a head thereon having a similar series of slots registering with those of the first head, and cushioning devices in said slots adapted to transmit motion from one head to the other-said slots and cushioning devices being relatively so proportioned that the cushprovided with a plurality of annular series of radially disposed normally registering slots with resilient cushioning devices in said slots adapted to transmit motion from one head to the other upon relative rotatory movement of the head-said cushioning devices being adapted to come successively into operation.

6. In a shock absorber, the combination of a driven shaft, a tubular head thereon provided with a series of annular slots, a driven operation upon relative rotatory movements 10 member, a eylindric head thereon telescopofthe head.

ing with the irst head and having radial In testimony that I claim the foregoing slots registering with thoseof the first head, as my oWn, I aliX my signaturein presence and cushioning devices in said slots adapted of two Witnesses.

to transmit motion from one head to the HORACE VILLIERS-STUART. L other said slots and cushioning devices being Vitnesses: relatively so proportioned that the Cushion- H. R. GRANT,

ing devices are brought successively into .A. J. EGELHoFit 

